7 months ago
3
The Philippines and China blamed each different aft a Chinese maritime forces and a Filipino vas rammed into each different adjacent the Philippine-occupied Thitu Island connected Sunday (October 12, 2025)
The Philippines accused Chinese maritime forces of utilizing h2o cannon and ramming a Filipino vessel, calling the actions a "clear threat" that escalates tensions successful contested South China Sea waters. Meanwhile, China’s seashore defender said 2 Philippine authorities vessels illegally entered waters successful the South China Sea connected Sunday, starring to a collision.
The Philippines Coast Guard said 3 Filipino vessels, including the BRP Datu Pagbuaya, were anchored adjacent Thitu Island, locally known arsenic Pag-asa Island, aboriginal connected Sunday (October 12) arsenic portion of a authorities programme to support section fishermen erstwhile Chinese ships reportedly approached and utilized h2o cannon to intimidate them.
An hr later, a China seashore defender vessel allegedly fired its h2o cannon straight astatine the BRP Datu Pagbuaya earlier ramming its stern, causing insignificant harm but nary injuries, the PCG said.
Manila's seashore defender and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources vowed to proceed their operations successful the area, saying their beingness is indispensable to safeguarding the livelihood of Filipino fishermen.
However, arsenic per Chinese Coast Guard, 1 Philippine authorities vas “dangerously approached the Chinese Coast Guard vessel” adjacent Sandy Cay, causing the collision for which the Philippine broadside bears afloat responsibility.
The area, portion of the Spratly Islands successful a disputed portion of the South China Sea, wherever Manila and Beijing person had repeated confrontations implicit the years.
Tensions betwixt China and the Philippines implicit the South China Sea person been rising done the year, peculiarly implicit the Scarborough Shoal, a premier sportfishing ground.
China claims astir the full South China Sea, a captious waterway for much than $3 trillion successful yearly ship-borne trade, parts of which are besides claimed by Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Vietnam.
